Review: Porter Airlines Lounge At Toronto Billy Bishop Airport

Now that you are in Mexico, if you ever see a plane from Aeromar, that's another airline that have lounges for all their passengers. They even have one in the States (in McAllen, Tx) https://www.aeromar.com.mx/servicios/salon-aeromar/

Lucky perhaps I missed something, but I am confused with your El Al routing. You said you needed to position yourself from Toronto to get a cheaper ticket, which I presumed meant you'd be flying an El Al partner from Toronto and connecting onto your El Al flight in Newark, so are porter and El Al partners and was the porter/El Al flight all on one ticket and just happened to include an overnight in Newark?

Oh good, glad I'm not the only one that thinks it's Billy Bush Airport! =P

@Lucky - There isn't pre-clearance at Billy Bishop? I was under the impression there was -or was supposed to be- but I could be wrong.

@CR: No preclearance yet, but it's coming.

BTW, no one calls it Billy Bishop up here. It's just "the island airport".

I appreciate that your main picture for this post has a dude prominently displayed wearing a Leafs jersey. #GLG

I've had bad experiences with CATSA too. Not sure why they're always so grumpy, especially at a small airport like this one.

FYI, you are eligible for some security benefits as a Global Entry member. Here, it sounds like it wouldn’t have helped (since this airport only offers the front-of-line service, and there was no line). But, it’s worth remembering for the future. (See http://www.catsa.gc.ca/node/11 .)

The one catch is that (I believe) you need to actually show your Global Entry card to get the special treatment. I showed the card the last time I flew out of Canada and was sent to the special line. But, since you normally don’t need the card to enter the US by air, it’s easy to forget to bring it.

By the way, I’m not sure what was up with the security agents. I’ve usually found the Canadians to be fairly professional.)

Geeze, that lounge looks like the New York Times news floor. I'd halfway expect an editor to run up to me a bark that he needs my column by 4pm sharp. Corporate cubicle slave camp.

What really annoys me in a busy lounge is when selfish people occupy adjacent seats with their handbaggage as in the picture you post. I'd have no problem with asking them to shift their stuff to allow my bum some space but I wish people could be a little more considerate especially when it's evident to everyone that people are looking for seating.

I've passed through Helsinki quite a few times and the Finnair Premium Lounge gets ridiculously packed as well. One thing I do admire about them though is they make periodic announcements basically saying if you have your stuff of an empty chair, remove it so people can sit.

The little ferry is a much more romantic way of reaching the airport than the efficient yet soulless trudge through the tunnel. Disappointed with your choice!

If you like Porter's lounge at Billy Bush airport now, you should have seen it before Air Canada moved in a few years ago.

@Mitch Cumstein Capacity and crowding at this airport are not due to Air Canada's tenancy--they fly 14 flights a day to YUL (they currently hold 15 landing slots--all new landing slots since 2010 have gone to Porter) and have done so for the past five years+. The problem is the number of Porter flights have increased several hundred percent in the past five years-new routes and increased frequency--without a corresponding increase in gate or waiting space. Coupled with very frequent Porter "sales", leaves the waiting area (especially on the domestic side) feeling like a Greyhound bus terminal which no amount of free soda, short breads or coffee make up for.

@lucky this airport is a gem. I use it often for day flights. Porter holds monopoly on the terminal space and landing slots, which is problematic for further investment and expansion. The convenience and setting of YTZ can't be beat. However, over-crowding, lack of staff training, age of fleet (half are over a decade old), and weather delays/holds November to May eliminate are serious problems to be aware of when choosing this airline.

There are many smaller airports than that which I have experienced too!

I work here! For AC, but still! Sad I missed seeing you but glad you like our little airport. Some things not mentioned (that you just wouldn't know about) the cooking were changed somewhat recently and it was a big enough deal that it was in the news. There is a free shuttle that goes between the airport and Union Station which is great. The airport is built primarily on reclaimed land! There is an expansion going on right now so some of the overcrowding should go away. Sadly, no new gates are coming that I've heard of. Both Porter and AC have free snacks on the planes which is fantastic. I'm proud of my tiny WW1 flying ace airport if you can't tell.

Ah, the rudeness. Remember flying in from Boston. The lady at immigration (one of 2 officers on duty) was in a bad mood; berated a visitor who clearly wasn't fluent in English; then came my turn: snarled that my customs and immigration form was bent / folded; stared at her coldly and told her it had been in the pocket of my suit jacket; she apologized; amazing!

Flying in, flying out, doesn't seem to matter.

It looks a really fun place to fly from and reminds me of City Airport in London.

As a fellow flying enthusiast, I love travelling to places that are a bit different. Porter Airlines look great fun too, I must make a point of flying them next time I’m in the US and have some leisure time included.

Thank you, Lucky.

@Culverin

Its not THAT great that you need to go out of your way to fly them.